Foxes frolic into Celebrate Michigan contest finals

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EDITOR'S CHOICE WINNER: In "Aurora Hunters," Dale Niesen of South Rockwood used two LED flashlights, a wide angle lens and a 15-second exposure to create this cool shot himself and his friend Steve Lambert watching the northern lights near Empire Bluffs in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Dale Niesen

EDITOR'S CHOICE WINNER: "The Dawn Hiker" was shot at Kensington Metropark in Milford. "The sunrise and a persistent mist surrounded the hiker as she rounded the small peninsula in Kent Lake," said Mudg Poster of West Bloomfield. "She walked so quickly I barely managed to get my camera up for this shot." Mudg Poster

EDITOR'S CHOICE WINNER: A frequent visitor to Lake St. Clair Metropark, Michele Gabris of Roseville was on the boardwalk when she heard this marsh wren calling. "Usually, you can only hear them calling from deep inside the cattail reeds, but this little one flew up and showed off by balancing between two cattails not more than six feet away from where I was standing," she said. Michele Gabris

HONORABLE MENTION: With a Jet Ski, a GoPro camera on a pole, and his sister Lauren, Clay Holmes of Macomb Township was riding around on Wixom Lake. "We were trying to capture some cool angles," he said. "The funny part was we weren't really trying here and caught the photo by accident." Clay Holmes

HONORABLE MENTION: "Sassy Pants the Squirrel," by Sharon Bodenus of Little Lake. "I have a little red squirrel who has stolen my heart and many of my friends' on Facebook,' she said. "She started to appear this spring and has since been here every day for her sunflower seeds. She is a sassy little thing and so she was named Sassy Pants." Sharon Bodenus

HONORABLE MENTION: "It was a Saturday morning in August,"said David Tisch of Ferndale."I decided to make the drive to Leland from Detroit, just to see the sunset. I was hoping it would look exactly like this. What a beautiful place!!!" This shot is titled "Sunset@Fishtown." David Tisch

HONORABLE MENTION: An odd sound in the Kensington Metropark woods on a brisk November day captured the attention of Jim Ridley of Brighton. "I walked slowly to where the noise originated and saw these two bucks in the clearing with horns clacking as they engaged," he said. "When they heard my shutter they disengaged and leapt into the woods. Neither buck was injured." Jim Ridley

FAVORITE PLACES CONTEST WINNER: Justin Carlson of Negaunee shot "Rolling Clouds Over Ore Dock" in Marquette as he was leaving work. "The cloud patterns were unlike anything I'd ever seen before in Marquette," he said. Justin Carlson

WOODS AND WILDLIFE CONTEST WINNER: "I saw this mute swan circling an island near the Nature Center (at Kensington Metropark)," said Jeff Wagoner of Plymouth. "Then it came in for a landing right in front of me. At the time I thought, 'What a wonderful performance.'" Jeff Wagoner

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES CONTEST WINNER: Jason Friday of Cheboygan "went up to the (Mackinac) Bridge to take photos on a snow day, not expecting to take a picture like this," he said. "I walked underneath, saw the ice veins and icicles that had formed from the spray and wind, and was amazed." The rest of the Outdoor Adventures finalists follow. Jason Friday

FAVORITE PLACES CONTEST FINALISTS: "My cousin Linda and I decided to take a weekend trip to Munising to see the Ice Caves," said Kim Schur of Auburn Hills. "It was 26 degrees below zero that morning. We dressed warmly in layers and hiked out to several of the falls. I was so amazed at the creations of Mother Nature! It was beautiful!" Kim Schur

"I often jump in my Jeep on my day off and drive to the west side to photograph the shoreline and the lighthouses," said Joan Hassberger of White Lake. "The St. Joseph lighthouse is one of my favorite subjects. I arrived just in time to catch the amazing show. With the waves and the clouds it turned out to be a great photo opportunity." Joan Hassberger

The University of Michigan cross country ski team spends a week every year training in the U.P. In 2015, "After one of our long training days, we hiked up to the Dead River (in Marquette)," said Elizabeth Callison of Gaylord. "I scrambled down the rocks to the bottom and took pictures of my teammates as they jumped in." Elizabeth Callison

Michael Palko of Traverse City spent a week at Isle Royale National Park this summer. "I took a stroll along the beach of Little Todd Harbor," he said. "There I found this birch tree, extending straight out over the beach and Lake Superior, extending its branches out to Canada." Michael Palko

"It's All About Height," by Kim Corey of Highland, shows her nephew Nolan and his friend Johnny clinging to inner tubes as they bounce high off Runyan Lake in Fenton. "Every summer I sit with my Sony a100 35mm zoom lens on the back of the boat trying to get some fun pictures of the kids," she says. "By the end of summer, I usually have enough pictures to put into a collage to show of all the fun that we have had." Kim Corey

The sun was just rising over the Mackinac Bridge when Jay Hijazi of Dearborn and his friends started to cross it on their way to the Porcupine Mountains. "One of the most majestic views I have ever witnessed," he said. He calls his shot "The Gracious Mac." Jay Hijazi

To get to a number of sandstone caves in the area of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Dale Niesen of South Rockwood "had to wade in nearly chest-high water with our equipment held high -- and I was also carrying a 50-pound Belgian Sheepdog (his pet Jet) -- but the shots were worth the effort," he said. Dale Niesen

They live in Chatham, Illinois, but Deb Barber and her family have been vacationing in southwest Michigan for five generations. Sunset at the public beach in Douglas, on Lake Michigan, was irresistible to grandsons Eli and Ian Bostrom, as well as Deb's wife Diane VanderKooy, who joined them in a jump for joy. "We LOVE our trips to Michigan!" Barber says. Deb Barber

In Marquette, "Often you will get this beautiful glow over the whole lake," says Sharon Bodenus, who lives nearby in Little Lake. "It is moments like this that I will put the camera down and just allow myself to enjoy the moment in real time. I love to smell the air and enjoy the sound of the crashing waves mixed with the call of seagulls." Sharon Bodenus

While camping at the KOA in Port Huron, Derek Jackson of Point Edward, Ontario and his 12-year-old son Bailey set the camera "for a 30-second long exposure to gather lots of light. During the exposure we painted light on the front of the cabin with an LED flashlight to highlight certain areas, while lighting my wife and younger son with the campfire. Our goal was to capture a photograph that would give people the feeling of being there." Derek Jackson

WOODS AND WILDLIFE FINALISTS: For Beverly Wolf of Waterford, the highlight of an Upper Peninsula fall camping tour was crossing the suspension bridge over the Presque Isle River in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. "The kettles, or potholes as they are sometimes called, were easily visible and so striking that they almost took my breath away," she said. A long exposure helped to convey the movement of the water. Beverly Wolf

Pam Bedsole of Cheboygan used her long lens to shoot a mute swan's nest without disturbing them for this photo, which she calls "Mom, I Can't See!" She said, "Capturing the the little cygnetsÕ innocence, facial expressions, and their interactions with their siblings and parents is a rewarding and pleasurable experience." Pam Bedsole

"Surprise Visitor," by Thomas Favazza of Shelby Township. A wood frog hopped on his daughter's hiking boot at Shelby Township's Holland Ponds. "She was so excited that it actually found her!" he said. Thomas Favazza

A female osprey stares fiercely into the camera as she flies toward her nest of three younglings near Dixie Highway in Monroe County. "The yellow tag shows the mom was born in 2013, and the metal tag shows she was born in Monroe County," said Fred Drotar of Newport, who call his shot "Dixie Chicks & Mom." Fred Drotar

Peg Runyan of West Branch staked out a fox den in a culvert in Ogemaw County. "I spent more than a week sitting in my car 6-9 hours a day, waiting for them to pop out for a quick frolic of a minute or two," she said. "As long as I was in the parked car, they didn't care. Of course, the mosquitoes were happy to keep me company when the kits were napping." Peg Runyan

It was a foggy morning in January when Pat Eisenberger of Warren visited an Oakland County nature center. "As I stood quietly they silently walked by, grazing on the brown grass as if they never even saw me," she said. "The only sound was the clicking of my shutter and my heart beating in my ears!" Pat Eisenberger

Ed Kirk of Commerce Township had to go no farther than his backyard for a wildlife shot that plays with depth of field to show an oversized bee hovering in front of a backdrop of purple flowers. Ed Kirk

"Eye See You," by John Clark of Westland. A frog pokes its head out of the duckweed in a pond at the Dahlem Center in Jackson. "I loved how some of it stuck on his face so I got my camera as close to the water as possible and focused right on the eye," Clark said. "Even with a large F-stop, the foreground and background blurred out wonderfully and he just stood out." John Clark

"That's it, right there!" by Bill O'Rourke of Traverse City. Years ago, O'Rourke raised a baby squirrel he named Angus. When he saw this squirrel starting to scratch under his "arm," he said, "I knew that satisfied look on his face was right around the corner, I'd seen Angus do it a million times." Bill O'Rourke

"Dinner Time," by Linda Sorensen of Canton. "The mama sow had been lying on the ground, nursing about six piglets," said Sorensen, who was visiting Kensington Farm Center in Milford with her grandson. "After a bit, she got up and started moving around. The piglets pictured weren't ready to quit eating and wiggled their way under the mama to continue their nursing. It was a short lived moment and I'm so glad I snapped a quick photo." Linda Sorensen

Kellen Crow of Commerce Township was at his favorite local duck hunting pond last fall when he saw this drake wood duck. "This guy was amazing," he said. "He put on a display for a hen wood duck and hen mallard, trying to catch their eyes." Kellen Crow

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FINALISTS: Marianne Choike of Monroe was on a family camping trip that included venturing out on a boat to catch the fireworks over Goose Lake in Jackson. "This particular firework was so bright that you are able to see the fog in the distance, the little island where the fireworks were launched, and the pontoon boat that was right in front," she said. "Such a beautiful night shared with family and friends." Marianne Choike

When she heard that 60 mph winds were coming out of the east in April, Gerry Buckel of Fostoria set out for Port Sanilac. "(Another) photographer ran out on the walkway and her leg was actually wrapped around the railing for safety, the wind was so strong," she said. "I've been a hobby photographer for years, and this was the first time I have been able to catch such great waves on Lake Huron." Gerry Buckel

On his first trip the dunes in about 30 years, Frederick Abels of Center Line said, "I was reminded at how much sand there is in this area of Michigan. I wanted to get as much sand as I could fit into the frame to convey the vastness." Nobody's fool, Abels gave his husband Jerry, who had never been there, the difficult task of climbing the dunes for the picture. Frederick Abels

Kara Stoltze of Ferndale spent Memorial Day weekend camping with friends at Silver Lake. "We caught the sunset our last night at Little Sable Point," she said. "Couldn't help but snag a pic when I saw my friend (and his girlfriend) along the sand!" Kara Stoltze

Of the many wonders Michaela Mazzenga has seen from the lakefront park she lives beside in St. Clair Shores, "This scene is truly one that I have spotted only once," she said. "The sailor turned the corner into our bay while I was admiring the frozen snow-capped lake. It's very common to see beautiful pictures of Lake St. Clair in the summer, though in my opinion, the frozen scenes in the winter are truly exquisite." Mihaela Mazzenga

Busy toddler Owen Futrell, almost 3, loves the outdoors. His aunt, Annie King of Mohawk, says, "He was so excited for his first fishing adventure with his mom and dad" in Keweenaw County. "When Owen felt a fish bite, he snatched the pole back, trying to drag the fish to shore. Once he saw the fish he caught, his face lit up." Annie King

Megan Stoltze of Brighton was looking for sunrise photos when she spotted a University of Michigan rowing team practicing on the Huron River. "I was thankful to get a quality shot of them moving swiftly among the fog," she said. "The dense fog made for a dramatic, yet peaceful picture." Megan Stoltze

The Roth family of Beverly Hills -- son Ethan, mom Nancy and daughter Carly, with dad Jason taking the picture -- stopped at one of their favorite places. "My son was being silly and said something that cracked us all up," Nancy said. "Ray's Ice Cream is a huge part of my childhood and I love bringing my family there!" Jason Roth

"Foggy Sunrise on Eagle Lake," by Steve Nowakowski of Lambertville, catches fishermen at dawn at Fort Custer State Park in Battle Creek. He was riding his bike back to his campsite when "at the boat launch I saw these two fisherman launching their boat. At first I road past the launch and then turned around and went back, wondering if there could be a possible picture in the fog over the lake." Steve Nowakowski

"MX Master," by Pat Eisenberger of Warren, gets down and dirty at a motocross in the Irish Hills. "There were a few of them who seemed to be skilled beyond belief," she said. "This one I named 'The Master' for his amazing speed and cunning!" Pat Eisenberger

"Give a kid an inch and he'll show you how to enjoy life," wrote Steven Korn of Southfield, who caught these two impish cousins, Monte and Tine, playing in the water by Hart Plaza in Detroit. He calls it "Sun + Water = Fun." Steven Korn

James Timmer of Troy shot this photo of choppy waves surging against the Benton Harbor Lighthouse on a blustery December day. "Lake Michigan was showing a teaser of her incredible strength and beauty," he said. James Timmer

Four more ‘Woods and Wildlife’ photos are in the running for $500

You would be hard-pressed to find a more patient photographer than Peg Runyan of West Branch, who staked out a fox den in a culvert in Ogemaw County.

“I spent more than a week sitting in my car 6-9 hours a day, waiting for them to pop out for a quick frolic of a minute or two,” she said. “As long as I was in the parked car, they didn’t care. Of course, the mosquitoes were happy to keep me company when the kits were napping.”

Runyan’s photo “Foxy Footwork” high-steps into the finals of The Detroit News’ Celebrate Michigan Contest: Woods and Wildlife. It’s the second of three Celebrate Michigan contests this summer, open to all non-professional photographers age 18 or older. Enter your photos through noon July 28 of animals and forests, including pets, farm animals, zoo scenes, wildflowers and more.

Detroit News photo editors will select four finalists each week. When the field of 16 is chosen, the winner will be determined by five days of public voting, Aug. 2-6.

The winner will receive a $500 Visa card.

This week’s other three finalists are:

■ “Alert Doe,” by Pat Eisenberger of Warren: Deer stand at attention on a foggy morning in January at an Oakland County nature center. “As I stood quietly they silently walked by, grazing on the brown grass as if they never even saw me,” she said. “The only sound was the clicking of my shutter and my heart beating in my ears!”

■ “Dixie Chicks & Mom,” by Fred Drotar of Newport: A female osprey stares fiercely into the camera as she flies toward her nest of three younglings near Dixie Highway in Monroe County. “The yellow tag shows the mom was born in 2013, and the metal tag shows she was born in Monroe County,” Drotar said.

■ “Honey I’ll Fly Home and Bee There on Time,” by Ed Kirk of Commerce Township. Kirk had to go no further than his backyard for a wildlife shot that plays with depth of field to show an oversized bee hovering in front of a backdrop of purple flowers.

The third Celebrate Michigan contest, Favorite Places, will be open July 28 to Aug. 25 for photos of anywhere in the state that’s special to you, indoors or outdoors.

At the end of the contests on Sept. 6, three Editors’ Pick bonus prizes of $150 cash cards will be awarded for three photos chosen from the pool of finalists by The Detroit News staff.